World ends -- or not

People party like there is no tomorrow

By By SCOTT SUNDE/SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

on December 21, 2012 10:45 AM

Photo: ap/getty

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Cue the spooky music as the sun rises behind the Kukulkan temple in Chichen Itza, Mexico, on Friday. The last day on Earth!. Nah, the folks who gathered her burned ceremonial fires and blew conches to greet the dawn and the end of a vast, 5,125-year cycle in the Mayan calendar. The hundreds gathered in the ancient Mayan city said they believed it marked the birth of a new and better age. (AP Photo/Israel Leal) less

Cue the spooky music as the sun rises behind the Kukulkan temple in Chichen Itza, Mexico, on Friday. The last day on Earth!. Nah, the folks who gathered her burned ceremonial fires and blew conches to greet the ... more

What do you do if there is no tomorrow? In the Turkish village of Sirince, you dance. Some people headed there Friday, believing it was the only safe haven from the impending apocalypse because the Virgin Mary is said to have risen to heaven from there. The village is also known for its wine. That couldn't have hurt. (BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images) less

What do you do if there is no tomorrow? In the Turkish village of Sirince, you dance. Some people headed there Friday, believing it was the only safe haven from the impending apocalypse because the Virgin Mary ... more

Photo: BULENT KILIC, Ap/getty

What do you do if there is no tomorrow? In the Turkish village of... Photo-3925671.54208 - Connecticut Post

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If E.T. was returning to save the lucky few, folks in France wanted to dress the part. When in Rome....This image came after 11.11 am, the time the Mayan Apocalypse was supposed to occur in Bugarach, France. It was supposed to be the only place on Earth that would have been saved from the apocalypse. (Photo by Patrick Aventurier/Getty Images) less

If E.T. was returning to save the lucky few, folks in France wanted to dress the part. When in Rome....This image came after 11.11 am, the time the Mayan Apocalypse was supposed to occur in Bugarach, France. It ... more

Then again, that safe place could have been in Serbia. Safe, but quite cold. People gathered at the Serbian mountain of Rtanj, 140 miles southeast of Belgrade on Friday. Mayan doomsday cultists flocked to Mount Rtanj, a pyramidal peak in Serbia, which they believed might have the power to save them. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) less

Then again, that safe place could have been in Serbia. Safe, but quite cold. People gathered at the Serbian mountain of Rtanj, 140 miles southeast of Belgrade on Friday. Mayan doomsday cultists flocked to ... more

Photo: Ap/getty

Then again, that safe place could have been in Serbia. Safe, but... Photo-3925678.54208 - Connecticut Post

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This was a twofer for the Druids: first day of winter and perhaps last day on Earth. So Arthur Uther Pendragon partied down and knighted a woman as Druids conducted a ceremony following the traditional winter solstice celebrations at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) less

This was a twofer for the Druids: first day of winter and perhaps last day on Earth. So Arthur Uther Pendragon partied down and knighted a woman as Druids conducted a ceremony following the traditional winter ... more

Photo: Matt Cardy, Ap/getty

This was a twofer for the Druids: first day of winter and perhaps... Photo-3925655.54208 - Connecticut Post

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This seems more like it. On Brazil, it was the first day of summer. Here is the dawn on Copacabana. (ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images)

This seems more like it. On Brazil, it was the first day of summer. Here is the dawn on Copacabana. (ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images)

Photo: ANTONIO SCORZA, Ap/getty

This seems more like it. On Brazil, it was the first day of summer.... Photo-3925650.54208 - Connecticut Post

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Ask yourself? The world is ending. Where do I want to spend the last day? Cold mountain in Serbia? With damp Druids? Copacabana, indeed. (ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images)

Ask yourself? The world is ending. Where do I want to spend the last day? Cold mountain in Serbia? With damp Druids? Copacabana, indeed. (ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images)

Photo: ANTONIO SCORZA, Ap/getty

Ask yourself? The world is ending. Where do I want to spend the... Photo-3925651.54208 - Connecticut Post

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The Spanish have a lock on celebrations from running with the bulls to the world's biggest tomato fight. In Madrid on Friday, a dancer dressed in a costume and a head-dress performed during a ceremony marking the end of the Mayan age. (PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU,PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images) less

The Spanish have a lock on celebrations from running with the bulls to the world's biggest tomato fight. In Madrid on Friday, a dancer dressed in a costume and a head-dress performed during a ceremony marking ... more

Photo: AFP, Ap/getty

The Spanish have a lock on celebrations from running with the bulls... Photo-3925672.54208 - Connecticut Post

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We don't think the French and others gathered in Bugarach, France, were that worried. Someone put out this banner that reads: "It's not the end of the world if you cheat on your husband." (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) less

We don't think the French and others gathered in Bugarach, France, were that worried. Someone put out this banner that reads: "It's not the end of the world if you cheat on your husband." (AP Photo/Marko ... more

Photo: Ap/getty

We don't think the French and others gathered in Bugarach,... Photo-3925679.54208 - Connecticut Post

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For reasons best left to the French, you had to paint your face green in Bugarach. (Photo by Patrick Aventurier/Getty Images)

For reasons best left to the French, you had to paint your face green in Bugarach. (Photo by Patrick Aventurier/Getty Images)

Photo: Patrick Aventurier, Ap/getty

For reasons best left to the French, you had to paint your face... Photo-3925666.54208 - Connecticut Post

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We know what she is thinking in Burgarach. There is a tomorrow, and I have to get this stuff off. (Photo by Patrick Aventurier/Getty Images)

We know what she is thinking in Burgarach. There is a tomorrow, and I have to get this stuff off. (Photo by Patrick Aventurier/Getty Images)

Photo: Patrick Aventurier, Ap/getty

We know what she is thinking in Burgarach. There is a tomorrow, and... Photo-3925669.54208 - Connecticut Post

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Just in case, the Reaper was ready in Bugarach. But from the look of things, more wild oats were sowed than gathered Friday. (ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Just in case, the Reaper was ready in Bugarach. But from the look of things, more wild oats were sowed than gathered Friday. (ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Photo: ERIC CABANIS, Ap/getty

Just in case, the Reaper was ready in Bugarach. But from the look... Photo-3925670.54208 - Connecticut Post

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Alien costumes were the hit of Bugarach. (Photo by Patrick Aventurier/Getty Images)

Alien costumes were the hit of Bugarach. (Photo by Patrick Aventurier/Getty Images)

In Serbia, this woman mediates in Rtanj, where people believed that electromagnetic waves would protect them. They did, as it turns out. (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images)

In Serbia, this woman mediates in Rtanj, where people believed that electromagnetic waves would protect them. They did, as it turns out. (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images)

Photo: ANDREJ ISAKOVIC, Ap/getty

In Serbia, this woman mediates in Rtanj, where people believed that... Photo-3925684.54208 - Connecticut Post

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The people who ought to know weren't worried but happy. Here people take part in a ceremony at the Iximche archeological site to mark the end of the 13th Oxlajuj B'aktun in Tecpan, Guatemala, early Friday. The end of the 13th Oxlajuj B'aktun marks a new period in the Mayan calendar, an event only comparable in recent times with the new millennium in 2000. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) less

The people who ought to know weren't worried but happy. Here people take part in a ceremony at the Iximche archeological site to mark the end of the 13th Oxlajuj B'aktun in Tecpan, Guatemala, early Friday. The ... more

Photo: Ap/getty

The people who ought to know weren't worried but happy. Here... Photo-3925687.54208 - Connecticut Post

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A Mayan shaman takes part in a ceremony on Friday north of Guatemala City. (JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

A Mayan shaman takes part in a ceremony on Friday north of Guatemala City. (JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Photo: Ap/getty

A Mayan shaman takes part in a ceremony on Friday north of... Photo-3925667.54208 - Connecticut Post

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A man kisses a bunch of candles for an offering during in a ceremony on Friday celebrating the end of the Mayan cycle known as Bak'tun 13 and the start of the Maya new age, at the Tikal archaeological site, north of Guatemala City. (JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images) less

A man kisses a bunch of candles for an offering during in a ceremony on Friday celebrating the end of the Mayan cycle known as Bak'tun 13 and the start of the Maya new age, at the Tikal archaeological site, ... more

Photo: JOHAN ORDONEZ, Ap/getty

A man kisses a bunch of candles for an offering during in a... Photo-3925683.54208 - Connecticut Post

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At the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung, Taiwan, there was a ceremony to assure people the world wasn't ending. Here a woman looks at a display about meteorites and perhaps hoping the Big One stays away. (SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) less

At the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung, Taiwan, there was a ceremony to assure people the world wasn't ending. Here a woman looks at a display about meteorites and perhaps hoping the Big One ... more

Photo: Ap/getty

At the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung, Taiwan,... Photo-3925654.54208 - Connecticut Post

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University students celebrated their graduation in front of a replica of a Mayan pyramid before a count-down ceremony organized by the National Museum of Natural Science. (SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images)

University students celebrated their graduation in front of a replica of a Mayan pyramid before a count-down ceremony organized by the National Museum of Natural Science. (SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images)

Photo: Ap/getty

University students celebrated their graduation in front of a... Photo-3925652.54208 - Connecticut Post

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A young woman looks at models of the planets at the National Museum of Natural Science in central Taichung on Friday. The display was supposed to be reassuring. (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) less

A young woman looks at models of the planets at the National Museum of Natural Science in central Taichung on Friday. The display was supposed to be reassuring. (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty ... more

Photo: SAM YEH, Ap/getty

A young woman looks at models of the planets at the National Museum... Photo-3925653.54208 - Connecticut Post

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This theater in Austin, Texas, asked the question on Thursday. The answer: The show will go on. (AP Photo/Statesman.com, Jay Janner)

This theater in Austin, Texas, asked the question on Thursday. The answer: The show will go on. (AP Photo/Statesman.com, Jay Janner)